Electric moped fire injures 2 NYC firefighters and kills a man
Lithium-ion batteries and compact electric motors have revolutionized the way commuters get around big cities. Electrified vehicles can harness the power of an onboard battery pack to effortlessly push riders across urban landscapes. However, lithium-ion batteries like the units on electric bikes and mopeds can start a dangerous EV fire. Tragically, a recent electric moped fire injured first responders after it killed a person in New York City (NYC).
It’s not just full-size EVs– an electric moped fire claimed a life and injured firefighters in a NYC apartment building
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) is one of the most prestigious firefighting agencies in the world. However, they can’t save every victim and quell every situation. Unfortunately for one 34-year-old New Yorker, that was the case.
According to the Daily News, a lithium-ion battery aboard an electric moped ignited in the man’s Bronx apartment. He had reportedly pulled the moped’s battery to charge it indoors when it caught fire.
Firefighters responded quickly, recovering the unconscious man and rushing him to St. Barnabas Hospital. Tragically, the man died at St. Barnabas sometime after. FDNY says two firefighters suffered injuries extinguishing the fire and rescuing the tenant.
Unfortunately, while cutting-edge, EV batteries can immolate. Most notably, a recent EV fire burned down a fire station in Germany. Like the NYC moped incident, the lithium-ion batteries ignited, leading to a blaze that destroyed fire apparatuses and consumed the multi-million-dollar station.
Moreover, a bus depot full of idle electric buses was the scene of a recent fire in Taichung City, Taiwan. Despite the coordinated efforts of dozens of firefighters, the blaze destroyed eight buses and damaged a ninth.
Battery fires like the electric moped incident present unique challenges for firefighters. Battery packs tend to burn near-continuously, requiring massive quantities of water to extinguish. As such, an EV fire in an enclosed space like an apartment can be an extremely dangerous situation. Consequently, it’s an important safety measure to store small electric vehicles away from your living space.
